Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Ray Grace, the North Carolina chief deputy banking commissioner who has filled the top job for the past week after Joseph Smith announced he was stepping down, has been nominated to fill the role permanently, Gov. Bev Perdue announced Tuesday.

"Ray has helped guide the state’s financial system through the toughest economic times that many of us have ever seen," Perdue said in a statement. "With more than 35 years of experience at the Office of the Commissioner of Banks, he comes to this job uniquely qualified and able to seamlessly step into this critical role."

Grace joined the Office of the Commissioner of Banks in 1974 and was named chief deputy in 2010.